Pacini: Alessandro nell’Indie / London Philharmonic Orchestra / Parry

The premiere of Alessandro nell’Indie in Naples in 1824 brought Pacini one of the most anxious evenings of his career. The audience sat on its hands, unwilling to approve or disapprove until it had heard the music a second time. Indeed, at the end of the evening the balance appeared to be dipping in the composer’s disfavour, for ill-suppressed hissing circulated around the auditorium.

The eventual success was owing to the personal intervention of King Ferdinand IV at the second performance. He led the applause, so ensuring a triumph that kept the opera on the boards for months and established Pacini as one of the city’s favourite composers. A re-handling of a libretto by the 18th-century dramatist Metastasio, Alessandro nell’Indie tells the story of Alexander the Great’s campaign in India, of his defeat of the Indian king Porus (Poro), and of his infatuation with an Indian queen, Cleophes (Cleofide).

It is a vehicle for gorgeously over-the-top bravura singing as the characters confront each other, deceive each other, reproach each other, plead with each other. Seemingly inevitable tragedy is finally averted as they vie in displaying idealistic generosity, fidelity and magnanimity. Alessandro, determined not to be outdone, becomes the quintessential 18th century ‘benevolent despot’. The 3CD set comes with a lavishly illustrated book including a complete libretto with an English translation. Jeremy Commons gives a detailed account of the story behind the opera and its composition.

“Giovanni Pacini (1796-1867)… was a rival of (in turn) Rossini, Donizetti, Bellini and Verdi. Bruce Ford, Jennifer Larmore and Laura Claycomb bring their roles to a vivid life, and David Parry is a persuasive conductor.”

“Giovanni Pacini (1796-1867)… was a rival of (in turn) Rossini, Donizetti, Bellini and Verdi. Bruce Ford, Jennifer Larmore and Laura Claycomb bring their roles to a vivid life, and David Parry is a persuasive conductor.”

My popular advice for young singers: The very first masterclass I gave, I jotted down a few ideas of things I wish I had known when I was just out of college; that advice has ballooned into this Young Artists Corner throughout my career. A book is forthcoming from this information, but in the meanwhile, there is plenty to read » Young Artists Corner